Multipurpose depth gauge



Sept 1 1953 1,. L. Km0 f MULTIPURPOSE DEPTH GAUGE Filed Julylo, 195o M mk L y. 2 r/ W V \\.\|hn V/ v0 F z `d Patented Sept. l, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPURPOSE DEPTH GAUGE Lloyd L. Kidd, Robbinsdale, Minn.

Application July 10, 1950, Serial N 0. 172,848

s claims. l

This invention relates to a multi-purpose depth gauge.

It is anV object of my invention to provide a depth gauge capable of measuring the depth of a recess and at the same time the depth of a shoulder formed therein.

Another object is to provide a depth gauge capable of being read directly to furnish the depth and relative depths of a recess and a shoulder within the recess or of two shoulders.

A further object is to provide a depth gauge having a means associated therewith for readily and accurately measuring the depth of a recess of very small diameter.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same shown in position for measuring the depth of a recess and a shoulder formed therein;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the skirt washer used to guide the narrow rule and rod of the device; y

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through a variation of the countersunk bolt shown in Figs. 1-3.

One embodiment of my invention includes, as shown in Figs. 1 3, a generally inverted T- shaped rule 6, the base portion 'I of which is broadened as best shown in Fig. 1. Mounted in upstanding relation to the base portion 1 is a pair of spaced guide pins 'I-a. and 'Ib disposed adjacent the lower edge of the broadened base portion 1. This rule `l has a longitudinally extending V-shaped guiding surface or trough 8 formed in its center portion. Along both sides of this V-shaped trough 8 is a scale indicated generally as 9 which commences at the top of the rule and extends downwardly therefrom.

The rule 6 is provided with a clamping apparatus indicated generally as I0 which comprises a countersunk bolt II, a skirt washer I2, a bent spring Washer I3 and a knurled burr or nut I4. The bolt II is countersunk in the rule 6 as best shown in Fig. 2 and is provided with an upstanding shoulder IIa and an upper threaded end portion IIb which is adapted to co-operate with the nut I4. As best shown in Fig. 3, the

countersunk bolt II is provided with a passage I5 of generally rectangular shape which extends longitudinally with respect to the rule 6 through the bolt II. This passage I5 has a V-shaped trough I6 formed in its lower wall which extends longitudinally with respect to the rule 6 through the bolt II. The upper wall of the passage I5 has a similar but inverted V-shape trough I1 which extends parallel to the trough I6 and oppositely thereof.

The skirt washer I2 is an annularly shaped member which has a centrally formed recess I8 adapted to receive therein the upstanding shoulder Ila of the counter-sunk bolt II. Formed in the peripheral portions of the skirt washer I2 is a shallow generally rectangularly formed recess I9, the upper Wall of which has an inverted V-shaped indent 20. This recess I9 and indent 20 are formed in two opposite sides of the skirt Washer I2 and extend inwardly to cornmunicate with the recess I8.

The passage I5 which extends through the bolt II is formed sufficiently high in the base of the bolt II so as to extend above the rule 6. This passage I5 accommodates a relatively narrow rule 2I which is at and superimposed upon the rule 6 as best shown in Figs. l and 2. When the clamping mechanism I0 is in loosened position this narrow rule 2| is in free sliding relation relative to the rule 6. superimposed upon the rule 2| is a generally cylindrical rod 22 of relatively small diameter. This rod 22 is normally in free sliding relation with the narrow rule 2| and is guided by the V-shaped trough I 'I ofthe bolt II and the V-shaped trough 20 ofthe skirt washer I2.

Fig. 5 shows a bolt indicated generally as 23 which is a variation of the countersunk bolt II. This bolt 23 is formed exactly like the bolt II with the exception that the lower wall of the passage I5 of the bolt II is removed so that instead of a passage there is a generally rectangularly shaped recess 24 extending through the bolt longitudinally with respect to the rule 6. The upper wall of the recess 24 has an inverted V-shaped trough 25 which is comparable to the V-shaped trough I'I in the bolt II.

When it is desired to measure the depth of a recess or bore such as the recess shown in Fig. 2, which has a shoulder 21 and a bottom 28, the user of my device will first loosen the nut I 4 of the clamping mechanism I0 and adjust the gauge as shown in Fig. 2. The base portion 'l of the rule 6 will rest upon the outer surface of the object in which the recess 26 is formed. The lower end of the rule 2| will rest upon the shoulder 21 and the lower end of the small cylindrical rod 22 will abut against the bottom 28 of the recess. Thereafter, the operator of the gauge can prevent relative movement of the rules 6 and 2| and the rod 22 by tightening the nut I4. When this is done the spring washer I3 will press downwardly against the topof the skirt washer I2. This will cause the V-shaped troughi 20 to engage and guide the cylindrical rod 22 so as to maintain' it parallel to the rules G and 2| and will cause the rod 22 to press downwardly upon the rule 2|. The upper surface of the rule 2| will as a result be received in the recess I9 of the skirt washer I2 and will be pressed downwardly' upon` the` upper surface of the rule 6 to hold the same from relative movement therebetween. The out'- wardly extending guide pegs 'Ia' and lb' willassist in maintaining the rule 2| parallel to the rule 6i.

Once the adjustments described above have been made the user of the gauge can readily determine the depth of the recess 26', the depth of the shoulder 2l, or the distance between the shoulder 2I and the bottom- 28 of the recess. This can be obtained by direct reading by referring to the upper ends of the rod 22, the rule 2 I, and the rule 6'. By referring to- Fig. l it can be-readily seen that these val-uescan be read directly from the: gauge. The reading of these values is greatly facilitated by the central disposition of the scale 9 on the rule 6, Thus, it can be readily seen that the upper end. of the rule 2| readily indicates` the precise depth of the shoul- ,1;

der 2I and. the upper end of the rod 22 readily indicates the: precise depth of the bottom 28 of the recess- 26. Also, the top of the rod 22 readily indicates ony the scale of the rule 2| the precise distance between the bottom 28Y and the shoulder 2'I.

When` the work being performed by the user of the depth gauge isv of. a nature wherein only straight blind holes are to be measured. to determiney their depth itis. possible for the user to co-operation. of the inverted V-shaped trough I7 and. the trough I'IY as well as the V-shaped trough. 2i). Thus it can be. readily seen that the use of the device is facilitated by removing the one rule 2| which is not. being used at that time.

However, when it becomes necessary to obtain a precise measurement of a recess of a very smallbore or of a recess having a shoulder formed thereinV it is possible for the user to re-insert the narrow rule 2| and thereby be provided with a depth gauge which will quickly and readily provide precise measurements of the same.

It should bev noted that by using my device, it is possible to -obtain precise measurements of the depth and relative depths of a shoulder or a plurality of shoulders within a narrow recess or bore. It should also be noted that these precise measurements are apt to be more accurate in view of the direct reading provision inherent in my device and that through the use of my device it is possible for a user to readily determine the depth of recesses of a very small bore. Depth gauges previously known in the art to the applicant have never provided a means whereby accu- 4 rate measurement can be obtained of the depth of a very small bore and/or of a shoulder therein.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A multi-purpose depth gauge comprising a `Vrelatively vwide rule, a relatively narrow rule superimposed upon saidfirst mentioned rule in free sliding and substantially parallel relation thereto, and a generally cylindrical rod of relatively small diameter superimposed upon said second mentioned rule in free sliding and substantially'parallel relation thereto, and means extending through said relatively Wide ruling for releasablyV holding said rod and said rules from relative movement therebetween.

2i. A multi-purpose depth gauge comprising a relatively wide rule,. a relatively narrow rule superimposed upon said first mentioned rule in free sliding and substantially parallel relation thereto, and. a. rod of relatively small diameter superimposed upon said second mentioned rule in free sliding and substantially parallel relation thereto, and means. extending through said wide rule for releasably holdingV said rodV and. said rulesv from relative movement therebetween, said means including guiding structure for maintaining said rod in parallel relation relative to said rules.

3. A multi-purpose depth. gauge comprising. a relatively wide rule having. a. guide surfacer associated therewith, a rod. of. relatively small diameter superimposed upon said. rule in free sliding relation thereto and extending. longitudinally thereof, and. means extending through said relatively wide rule for releasably holding said rod and said rule from. movement therebetween, said means including a guide surface. adapted tov cooperate with said guide surface of said rule to positively guidel said. rod. and maintain it in parallel relation to said rule when said rod is slid along said rule.

4. The structure dened in claim 3, at least one of said guide surfaces being` generally V- shaped, Y

5. A multi-purpose depthgauge having in combination a relatively wide rule; clamping meansextending through. said. rule.. Said clamping means having. a passage extending-therethrough substantially parallel to said rule,` a rela-- tively narrow rule superimposed upon said first mentioned rule and. extending through said passage parallel to said rst mentioned rule, and a rod of relatively small diameter superimposed on said second mentioned rule and extending through said passage substantially parallel to saidA rules, said clamping means being adapted for releasably securing said rod. and said rules from relative movementA therebetween.

6. A multi-purpose dept-h gauge havingv in combmation a relatively wide generally 'If-shaped rule, clamping means countersunk in the lower end of said rule and extending therethrough, said clamping means havingl a passage extendingy therethrough longitudinally of said rule, a relatively narrow rule superimposed. upon said first mentioned rule and extending through said passage longitudinally of said. first mentioned rule, and a rod of relatively Small diameter superimposed upon said second mentioned rule and. eX- tending through said passage longitudinally cf said rules, said clamping means being adapted for releasably securing said rod and said rules to prevent relative movement therebetween and including a generally V-shaped guide surface extending longitudinally of said rod for guiding the same and maintaining it in parallel relation to said rules.

7. The structure dened in claim 6, each of said rules having scales associated therewith reading away from corresponding ends of said rules to make possible the direct reading of the positions of the opposite ends of said narrow rule and said rod relative to said rst mentioned rule and to each other by referring to the positions of said corresponding ends of said rules and said rod relative to said scales.

8. A multi-purpose depth gauge having in combination a relatively wide rule having a longitudinally extending generally V-shaped recess therein, clamping means associated with said rule, said clamping means having a recess formed therein, said recess extending upwardly above said rule and longitudinally of said rule, a relatively narrow rule superimposed upon said first mentioned rule and received within said recess and extending longitudinally of said first mentioned rule, and a generally cylindrical rod of relatively small diameter superimposed on said second mentioned rule and being received within said recess and extending longitudinally of said rules, said clamping means being adapted for releasably securing said rod and said rules from relative movement therebetween said recess of said clamping means being of generally inverted V shape to cooperate with the recess of said wide rule when said narrow rule is withdrawn to effectively hold and guide said cylindrical rod in parallel relation to said wide rule.

LLOYD L. KIDD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 401,292 Mumford Apr. 9, 1889 750,449 Gillard Jan. 26, 1904 1,248,340 Kinney Nov. 27, 1917 1,638,887 Sirokman Aug. 16, 1927 1,679,473 Kabisius Aug. 7, 1928 2,175,650 Schober Oct. 10, 1939 2,336,393 Cumbes Dec. 7, 1943 2,356,544 Swanson Aug. 22, 1944 2,492,369 Robins Dec, 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 253,742 Switzerland Mar. 31, 1948 

